Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Sunday's grid brings a tight five-by-five mix of food brands, animal kingdom references, and modern tech lingo. Whether you're racing the clock or just enjoying a quick brain break, we've got hints and answers to keep you moving.
How The Mini Works
The Mini is a compact version of the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring a 5x5 grid with five Across and five Down clues. Saturdays expand to a larger grid with more clues. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime. No streak tracking here, but the built-in timer lets you compete against yourself or challenge friends.
New puzzles drop at 10 p.m. EST on weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday's Mini arrives earlier at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 5x5
Total Clues: 10 (5 Across, 5 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Consideration when figuring out how early to arrive at the airport, for short", TSA is a quick abbreviation that trips up solvers who overthink it.
Gimme Clue: "Cookie in cookies 'n cream", OREO is instantly recognizable and a near-automatic fill.
Theme Spotted: None today, a straightforward grab bag of common crossword vocabulary.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Mild, pleasant intoxication
Hint: Think happy hour sensation. Four letters, starts with B.
5. Cookie in cookies 'n cream
Hint: The classic sandwich cookie. Four letters, starts with O.
6. Head of a monastery
Hint: Religious title for a male leader of monks. Five letters, starts with A.
8. Sticks, for a snowman
Hint: What a snowman uses to wave. Four letters, starts with A.
9. Artemis II org.
Hint: The space agency behind the moon missions. Four letters, starts with N.
Down Hints
1. Snake that can weigh over 100 pounds
Hint: A large constrictor. Three letters, starts with B.
2. Of the city
Hint: Urban synonym. Five letters, starts with U.
3. Serengeti grazer
Hint: Striped African animal. Five letters, starts with Z.
4. Participates in a video call, as added to the dictionary in 2020
Hint: Pandemic-era verb that became official. Five letters, starts with Z.
7. Consideration when figuring out how early to arrive at the airport, for short
Hint: Three-letter acronym for security screening. Starts with T.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Mild, pleasant intoxication
Answer: BUZZ
5. Cookie in cookies 'n cream
Answer: OREO
6. Head of a monastery
Answer: ABBOT
8. Sticks, for a snowman
Answer: ARMS
9. Artemis II org.
Answer: NASA
Down Answers
1. Snake that can weigh over 100 pounds
Answer: BOA
2. Of the city
Answer: URBAN
3. Serengeti grazer
Answer: ZEBRA
4. Participates in a video call, as added to the dictionary in 2020
Answer: ZOOMS
7. Consideration when figuring out how early to arrive at the airport, for short
Answer: TSA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Participates in a video call, as added to the dictionary in 2020" for ZOOMS. This clue captures a genuine linguistic milestone, the pandemic-era verb cemented its place in Merriam-Webster, and the Mini recognized it with a cleverly modern clue.
Wordplay Winner: "Mild, pleasant intoxication" for BUZZ. It's a double-meaning gem, describing both the alcohol effect and the literal buzzing sound that fits the theme. Clean, efficient, classic crossword construction.
Quick Fill: "Cookie in cookies 'n cream" for OREO. Four letters, brand-name recognition, and it's a dessert staple. Instant fill for anyone who's ever seen an ice cream menu.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Short abbreviations like TSA and NASA are Mini staples. When you see "for short" in a clue, your brain should immediately jump to three- or four-letter acronyms. Train yourself to scan the grid for fill-in-the-blank patterns around these, they often unlock surrounding words.
Notice how ZOOMS and ZEBRA both start with Z. When two Z-words appear in the same Mini, lock them in early. Uncommon letters create anchor points that make the rest of the grid fall into place faster.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tomorrow at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? Whether BUZZ gave you the happy-hour edge or TSA had you second-guessing security lines, every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
